Kleefeld teen takes on world’s best autobody specialists

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This article was published 05/10/2024 (546 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Just after the Olympics and Paralympics ended and the world’s best athletes left France, the world’s best young tradespeople landed to compete in the 47th WorldSkills competition in Lyon.

Kleefeld’s James Bartel, 18, was there after winning the Skills Canada Autobody Repair competition in Quebec before he even graduated Steinbach Regional Secondary School (SRSS) this past spring. He took on specialists in their 20s, some of whom had dedicated shops and equipment to train with for years ahead of time.

Bartel was back at SRSS to tell of his experience with Collision Repair and Refinishing teacher Jessy Unrau, who made the trip as trainer with his former student. He was a little dismayed at his 13th place finish out of 18 in autobody repair at the global event, saying he did “alright,” but Unrau was quick to point out he did that with a defective welder.

“They actually gave him a new one the next day. He used a crappy one for a while. So that set him back; he would have done way better,” insisted Unrau, who said Bartel was still keeping up with the top guys.

“One of the three-and-a-half days was pretty much wasted because of that welder,” admitted Bartel.

Supplies were provided by WorldSkills. Unrau said this was the first year competitors did not bring their own tools.

“The guy who brought the welders there… he actually told him at the end of the competition that ‘I don’t even know how you got the welds you did with that welder the way it wasn’t working,’” said Unrau.

“If I had Milwaukee tools, I would have been in first place,” said Bartel with jocular assurance.

The young Red River College Business Administration student persevered, setting the highest mark ever for a Canadian.

It was an outstanding accomplishment for Bartel. To give an idea of the competition he kept up with, the China Daily out of Hong Kong quoted a Chinese WorldSkills competitor who described working for five years and logging 18,000 hours ahead of going to France this September.

The Kleefeld kid put in as much time as he could while finishing high school and starting college to learn how best to start his own business soon. Bartel was connected with an expert from Ottawa after the Canadian win. Local businesses and SRSS staff helped with tools and space to practice. Fundraising helped with the trip.

And of course there was his teacher.

“Massive thanks to Jessy, my teacher and then later trainer officially, for everything. He let me use his shop to practice. He spent a lot of extra time with all the emails,” said Bartel.

The event had 1,400 competitors from 70 countries on five continents competing in 59 skills. Bartel met some new friends during his 10-day visit, staying in touch with a fellow competitor from the U.K. He also got to use his Russian.

“I talked to a guy from Khazakstan because on the last day I kind of realized he spoke Russian. That’s one of my first languages, actually,” said Bartel.

He also hopped on an electric scooter that Lyon puts out across the city for anyone to rent and was able to see a little of the French culture after all the ceremonies and working on cars. He said any future students who get the chance to travel to these events should definitely take it.

“It was fun. It was a good time. I’m glad I did it,” said Bartel.

The list of those who helped Bartel and Unrau on their journey is long and includes Loewen Bodyshop, Guy’s Autobody Supply, Skills Manitoba, Funk’s Autobody, Steinbach’s Napa Auto Parts, Keystone Agri-Motive, 3M, Manitoba Public Insurance’s Steinbach shop, and more.